Lincecum effective again, but Giants fall to Padres 2-1

SAN DIEGO – The Giants played in the realigned Petco Park for the first time, but the new dimensions weren’t a factor.

Nobody hit a ball deep enough to take advantage of the closer outfield wall, which was moved in before the season in a bid to make the place more hitter-friendly. A revived Tim Lincecum kept the ball in the park, but one rough inning was costly in a 2-1 loss to the Padres.

It was the second straight game Lincecum threw to catcher Buster Posey, and the difference was noticeable, again. The more he pitched, the better he got. He needed 77 pitches to get through four innings, then threw just 28 in the fifth, sixth and seventh.

It was the first time Lincecum completed seven innings since Aug. 10 – 14 starts ago — and it was the first time since July 14 he struck out as many as nine batters.

Lincecum gave up six hits, all singles. So at least for one day, the new dimensions didn’t make a difference. In the offseason, the Padres moved the left-center wall in 12 feet, from 402 to 390. In right-center, it was moved in 11 feet (402 to 391) and lowered to eight feet, matching the rest of the outfield wall.

The dimensions are the same down the lines, 336 to left, 322 to right. Dead center, 396.

“They did a good job. I think it looks good,” said manager Bruce Bochy, who wouldn’t have minded a closer outfield wall when he managed here.

So far, three home runs have been hit that likely wouldn’t have reached the old wall. All were hit by opposing teams.

“Let’s keep it that way,” Bochy said.

Lincecum did. In two of his seven innings, he permitted no more than one baserunner. The first time, he got a hand from the defense. After the first two Padres reached in the second inning, Angel Pagan made a diving catch in left-center and the infield turned a double play.

Lincecum wasn’t so fortunate in the third. He gave up four hits, starting with pitcher Andrew Cashner’s liner up the middle. The other three hits came with two outs, and suddenly the Giants were down 2-1.

From there, Lincecum was more efficient and effective. With Posey catching him, he has given up two runs in 14 2/3 innings. His ERA with Hector Sanchez catching was 5.62. Then again, both of the Lincecum-Posey games were against the Padres, who own the majors’ worst record outside of Miami.

The Giants’ only run came in the first inning when Pagan singled, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. They put two runners aboard in the ninth off Huston Street on singles by Posey and Brandon Belt, but Street retired Brandon Crawford to end it.